Random musings about Verve Stamps, mixed-media and the artistry found in everyday life.

Thoughts and Prayers

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Hi everyone! The minute I saw this tree from Thoughts & Prayers in the new SU! catty I knew I had to get the set. I just love it - so much that I got the coordinating wall decor to spruce up my wall in my spare time (yeah, right - like that will happen anytime soon!) So the images are beautiful, and I've seen GORGEOUS cards made with this set. The only thing I don't love about this set is that it's double mounted. ICK!!! Was that really necessary? What a terrible thing to do to such a beautiful set! Double-mounted is okay for alphas and borders, but for large images? Just say no! LOL Apparently I need to find myself some wood blocks, and then blow up the teeny tiny index labels about 500% because the two stamps from this set that I double mounted totally drove me batty, just in the time it took to make this card!

But, I digress. Regardless of the double-mounting, the tree just makes me sigh and I LOVE it. It's so graceful! Oh, the things we endure in the name of art! LOL! :) Anyway, when I was tooling around on the computer this weekend, I ran across this week's CPS sketch {CPS104} and it reminded me of this image, so I decided to take my new set for a test drive. I started by stamping the tree in Versafine Onyx Black and then using my Mat Pack and paper piercer to do a little faux stitching around the edges of the panel. Next I pulled out some Eclipse Tape and did some masking to first ink up the outer edges with Sahara Sand then Chocolate Chip. Next I masked off the outer edges and a strip at the bottom and sponged around the edges with Soft Sky, leaving the center white, giving it a cloud effect. Next I moved up the lower mask and inked on the Mellow Moss for the ground. I love the finished effect.

The background panel is stamped with Sahara Sand using the leafy image from the set on Kraft paper and matted with black. The tag is from the Nestabilities set, and I inked the edges with Sahara Sand and Chocolate Chip, then matted on black and added a Kraft Taffeta ribbon. I finished off with a couple off white Kaiser Craft flowers that I inked with Chocolate Chip ink and then sewed a Button Latte button to the center with some linen thread. A few little dots with a black pen around the edges and I was done.

To put your mind at ease - SU is not going to do double mounting with anything but alpha and word sets from now on. They heard our pleas and won't do it anymore. Won't help the sets that we are stuck with now though. What size wood blocks would you need? I have a whole box and would gladly send you what you need. Just let me know dimensions and I'll see if I have them. ~chris

WOWzers! I love this! I CAN'T wait for my order to arrive, you KNOW I got that tree too. But, the whole double mounted thing is buggin' too. Ack! Maybe I won't mount them both from the get go and hunt around for another block (where would one find one of those?). Anyhoo, lovin' this card!

I am with you on the stamp, it is wicked and I love your card! I too got the Decor Elements tree for the wall and it is sitting on my craft room floor still! LOL But the stamp is double mounted???? What the??? Just because of that, I might say na!

I'm with you Julee! I just LOVE this set!! It's my fave from this catty and I just can't wait for it to arrive. However, Double Mounted - YUCK!!! Think an e-mail to SU will be sent today about this not so wise decision. Guess I'll have to bake some cookies adn visit my neighbour up the street again so he can cut my Big Blossom block for this set so it can be mounted properly!

Didn't realize this image came in Decor elements...hmmm...may have to get that for myself as it is such a beautiful image, I just love it!!

Okay, now to the card - it's lovely. Great sponging and faux stitching.

Ok. This is definately the most stunning card I've seen with this set!! Oh my goodness, this card rocks! It's on my list to buy. With so many nice sets in the new cattie, I'm not sure if it will be at next months' Stampers 12 or the following. Either way, you make me want it even more!

Really beautiful card! I just ordered some wood blocks online so that I can go ahead and order this set. I've bookmarked this page so I can come back and case your card once my blocks/stamps arrive! :)

Welcome

I'm Julee Tilman, owner and Illustrator for Verve Stamps and founder of the Mojo Monday sketch challenge. I'm also Mama to five year old identical twin boys. To read a little bit more about me click here.

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This blog is for personal inspiration only and all projects are my original designs unless otherwise stated. I own Verve Stamps and have received products and materials to work with from several generous companies over the years. While I have received free products from these companies, I maintain the freedom as an independent designer to say what I truly think of their products. I will never recommend something that I don’t personally use and enjoy. Some posts contain affiliate links to Amazon.com. If you buy products from Amazon by clicking my links, I get a small commission. This does not affect the price of the items your purchase.